Tavor X95

The IWI X95 (formerly known as the Micro-Tavor, MTAR or MTAR-21) is an Israeli bullpup assault rifle designed and produced by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) as part of the Tavor rifle family, along with the Tavor TAR and the Tavor 7.

History

In November 2009, the X95 was selected as the future standard-issue weapon of the Israeli infantry.מיקרו–תבור לכל לוחם חי"ר
. Dover.idf.il. Retrieved on 2010-08-31.

It is currently one of three standard rifles issued to the Israeli infantry.
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Following the use of the weapon by Indian forces fighting the insurgency in Kashmir, CRPF commanders have stated that the X95 is a more effective assault rifle than the AKM, due to its small size, power, longer range and lighter weight.

In 2014, the IDF announced that in the future (from as early as the end of 2014) some infantry units could start to be issued some numbers of an improved X95, which will have a longer barrel, instead of the original barrel of the X95, and a lighter trigger pull.

In September 2021, it was reported that Israeli front-line infantry units have begun replacing their Tavor and Micro Tavor Rifles with M4s and that the Micro Tavor Rifles in existing inventory will be transitioned to reserve brigades.

On 7 September, a report was published on the IDF's Hebrew website that the IDF plans to continue acquiring the Micro Tavor and equipping combat units with it.

Design

The X95 can be easily distinguished from the TAR-21 (as well as from the CTAR-21, STAR-21, and GTAR-21) by the location of its cocking handle, charging handle.

The X95's charging handle is closer to the pistol grip, whilst the TAR-21's charging handle is closer to its muzzle.

The X95 also features a redesigned buttstock and a magazine release near the pistol grip.

Compared to the long M4 carbine (with its stock extended) with a barrel, the X95 is , , or long, with either a , , or a barrel, respectively.

Action

As of Spring 2020, all new 5.56×45mm NATO production X95's were upgraded with the .300 AAC Blackout recoil mechanism.

Conversion

With the use of a relatively simple conversion kit, the X95 can be converted from a 5.56mm assault rifle to a 9mm submachine gun.

A suppressor can also be attached, as part of the 9mm conversion kit, or as part of a replacement handguard which integrates the muzzle brake, suppressor, and handguard.

When configured in 9mm, the X95 uses a blowback system to cycle through the ammunition, whilst using the same body as the gas-operated rifle system.

It uses Colt 9mm SMG magazines. A suppressor can be mounted that allows for the use of both supersonic and subsonic loads. The barrel is of the same length as of the rifle configuration, but has a 1:10 in rifling twist to stabilise the heavy 9mm round.IWI X95: A Bullpup For IDF Special Forces
- SAdefensejournal.com, 21 March 2012

Accessories

The X95 has its own underslung grenade launcher, the X95 GL 40. A discontinued production model of the X95, the X95-GL had the capability to mount an M203 grenade launcher on an extended notched barrel.

There are three different handguards currently available for the X95:

# the first being rounded so it can mount the suppressor inside of the handguard, and is currently only available for military issue
# the second is a rectangular one with integrated rails at the 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions, and has removable rail covers
# the third is an elongated version of the second, made for IWI US Tavor X95s.

The rounded handguard originally had separate picatinny rails on the receiver and handguard, but IWI has produced a full-length flattop rail and an underside rail for it; the other two handguards have integrated flattop rails.

The X95 comes with the option of changing out the pistol grip with either the standard Tavor Talon trigger guard, a traditional trigger guard, or any compatible third-party accessory.

Variants

IDF soldiers with the X95 on alt=

The X95 comes in a number of variants (including):

X95

The X95 is chambered in either 5.56×45mm NATO or .300 AAC Blackout. The .300 BLK configuration features a gas regulator for both supersonic and subsonic loads.

X95-R

The X95-R is chambered in 5.45×39mm and can easily be rechambered to the three other calibres that IWI offers:

X95 SMG

The X95 SMG is chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum and is also available as a conversion kit.

Licensed variants

Civilian variants

IWI US

IWI US offers the rifle in semi-automatic only configuration as the 'Tavor X95'.

All Tavor X95s sold on the U.S. civilian market are semi-automatic only and come with an elongated handguard and a thicker buttpad to comply with the firearm laws of the U.S.

IWI US retails the Tavor X95s in a variety of colours, including Black (B), Flat Dark Earth (FD), and OD Green (G); the letter "B" in the rifles designations can be switched with any of the other colour letters.

IWI Canada

All Tavor X95s sold on the Canadian civilian market are semi-automatic only and come in both "Restricted" and "Non-restricted" classifications.

The "Restricted" models have a barrel and were made available starting 2021. They are only available as used, Israeli surplus firearms, and come with either square or circular handguards.

The "Non-restricted" models have a barrel with an overall length of and are available as new or surplus.

Users

* : The Angolan Armed Forces use the X95.
* : State Border Service (Azerbaijan) and Marine Infantry of Azerbaijan uses the X95.
*
** National Police of Colombia
*
** Cypriot Special Forces
*
** Used mostly by security services and protection details.
*
** Honduran Army
*
** Central Reserve Police Force
*
** Kopasgat.
*
*
*
** DGSN
*
**Special Anti-terrorist Unit - Tiger
*
** Philippine Coast Guard
** Philippine National Police
*
*
*
** The Fort-224 is in service of the National Guard of Ukraine.
*
** Pennsylvania Capitol Police

References

External links

Israel Weapon Industries (I.W.I.): IWI X95

isayeret.com Tavor Guide

{{DEFAULTSORT:Iwi Tavor X-95
.300 BLK firearms
5.45×39mm assault rifles
5.56×45mm NATO assault rifles
Assault rifles of Israel
Bullpup rifles
Israeli inventions
Weapons and ammunition introduced in 2009